Hey, B. Are you going to have any of your shirts at the Auckland show?

Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:22 am

b. dolanFBI agent

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 5705

Unfortunately not... we sold out of everything we brought last night cloth wise... We've still got cd's at this point, which will hopefully still be around by then. No matter what you'll go home with scars and autographs though ;)

Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:56 am

mzehe916

Joined: 04 Aug 2006
Posts: 4544
Location: Switzerland

Wait, no more shirts? How will everybody know that I was there?! These are lessons I've learned from listening to Cake.

Mon Sep 20, 2010 6:04 am

Specialist

Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Bristol, England

Only just got round to logging on as have had shit going on, but wanted to share my thoughts on the gig in Bristol on Wednesday for those who're interested.

The venue was sold out and already full for B Dolan's set. He totally smashed it.

He opened with Leaving New York, which despite the backing track being a bit quiet was a really powerful first track.

Plenty of people in the crowd seemed to know B's material. Earthmovers, Economy of Words, Joan Of Aracadia and Kitchen Sink were all huge and the reworking of 50 Ways with MIA was inspired.

Marvin was a highlight for me, perfectly executed. Not sure if all of the crowd got B's ironic banter about America and the support act Clayton Blizzard, but hey, that's their problem. Fantastic stuff and we can't wait for you to come back in March. I think there's a growing appreciation and following of your work in Bristol.

By the time Sage came on the place was heaving and it was quite surreal seeing 200 or so people shouting every word back. It's odd when you think that you're in a tiny minority of fans in the city you live in and then after all these years realise there are hundreds of like minds around you.

The fears of some of my friends at the gig that Sage would draw heavily from the new album, were quickly swept aside as he declared from the start "this is the first show of my last tour and I'm going to go right through my back catalogue".

What followed was an emotional and as I said before, surreal experience, as Sage laid on the best performance of his I've ever seen, and sadly the last to a massively receptive crowd.

Pretty much everything I'd have wanted to hear one last time was there.
Opening with a reworked Waterline was a surprising, emotive and brilliant choice.

I can't rememebr the order of the set too well as I'd already had a few pints and got well and truly swept up in the emotion of things, but Crackpipes, Sealion, That Ain't Right, a dark brooding take on The Cure, Dance Monkey, Hell Of a Year, Civil Disobedience/Clickety Clack, a truly unexpected, remixed, Going Back To Rehab, Threewrite, a humbly introduced Love The Life, Gunz Yo, Jah Didn't Kill Johnny and Bridle were all there and I'm sure I saw Sage wiping away a tear at one point. It truly felt like this was the last time we'd see him in England and watching so many people around me powering back every word, particularly to the older stuff, felt like a fitting end.

Best Of Times was absolutely spot on, beautiful and evocative, and I was struggling to hold it back myself, before Sage left the stage.

An encore was universally demanded and after a tease of Slow Down Ghandi, we got a storming version of Damage, Dan Le Sac and B Dolan joining in on One Breath Left and House of Bees. Sage waded in to the crowd at the end (where my girlfriend gave him a big hug and got a kiss for her troubles) and he seemed truly touched by the occasion.

Had a quick chat with B at the end, where he again referred to me as the British Prolyphic (quite a compliment) before we wobbled off into the night.
Thanks for what was very close to the best gig I've ever seen. It truly was the best of times.

Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:03 am

Specialist

Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 89
Location: Bristol, England

Edit: Scroobius Pip, not Dan Le Sac - that would have been weird!

Mon Sep 20, 2010 7:05 am

Majawala

Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 1806

the manchester show was pretty much the same. fuckin awesome.

still have the taste of sweaty dolan finger in my mouth.

Mon Sep 20, 2010 12:24 pm

b. dolanFBI agent

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 5705

Ah. I miss England.

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Thu Sep 23, 2010 4:15 am

coma emilio

Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 1115

here's a snap i cheekily took of b at the merch table in glasgow...
thanks for the cd!! :)

Thu Sep 23, 2010 11:34 am

Mr Jenkins

Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 608
Location: Aotearoa

Sage Francis wrote:

Mr Jenkins wrote: the groove guide in new zealand still has the old dates for your shows here, 12,000 copies co out to all the bars, clubs, every week..

Well that's a bit unsettling.
I will let the tour promoter know about that. Thanks.
..

the gig isn't in the groove guide at all now

Thu Sep 23, 2010 2:08 pm

Sage FrancisSelf Fighteous

Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 21654

I've looked into that. I've complained. I've frustrated and angered the organizers. The show is still on.

according to the editor the dates have been up the whole time:

"The dates have been in the whole time, they are in the "presents"
section of tours and events."

Mon Sep 27, 2010 1:39 pm

Lants

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2234

sage are you in melbourne yet?

Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:52 pm

Sage FrancisSelf Fighteous

Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 21654

After 23 hours of flying, 4 different planes, a cab ride and waiting around in a hotel lobby for my room to open...I am here! haha.
I slept from 1pm til 11pm. What are the chances of me falling asleep at a decent hour so that I can be in full effect for tomorrow's show?

Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:08 am

Lants

Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2234

sage was AMAZING! best gig ever.

big <3

Sat Oct 16, 2010 3:57 am

Z-0

Joined: 28 Sep 2004
Posts: 700
Location: Sydney

Sydney tomorrow! my wife and i are making a mini (very mini) holiday of it. hotel near wynyard station, dinner in chinatown, sage's show, breakfast on york street.